Terminal apparatus, base station and communication method

ABSTRACT

Provided is a terminal apparatus in which, a transmission control unit (204) controls the transmission power of a sounding reference signal (SRS) by use of an offset value relative to the transmission power of a data signal, and a transmission unit (206) transmits the SRS by use of the transmission power as controlled. If a subframe to be used for transmitting the SRS is a predetermined subframe, the transmission control unit (204) uses a first offset value to control the transmission power of the SRS. Otherwise, the transmission control unit (204) uses a second offset value to control the transmission power of the SRS. The second offset value is an offset value that has been established so as to be transmitted to the serving cell of the terminal (200), and the first offset value is greater than the second offset value.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a terminal apparatus, a base stationand a communication method.

Description of the Related Art

In 3GPP-LTE (3rd Generation Partnership Project Radio Access NetworkLong Term Evolution, hereinafter, referred to as “LTE”) uplink, periodicsounding reference signals (P-SRS) are used as reference signals (SRS(sounding reference signal)) to measure uplink receiving quality.

Furthermore, in LTE, an SRS transmission subframe (hereinafter, referredto as “common SRS subframe”) which is common to all terminal apparatuses(hereinafter, simply referred to as “terminal” or also referred to as“UE (User Equipment)”) is configured. This common SRS subframe isdefined by a combination of a predetermined periodicity and a subframeoffset on a per-cell basis. In addition, the information on the commonSRS subframe is broadcasted to terminals within the cell. For example,when the periodicity is equal to 10 subframes and the offset is 3, thethird subframe in a frame (consisting of 10 subframes) is configured asa common SRS subframe. In a common SRS subframe, all the terminalswithin the cell stop transmission of data signals in the last symbol ofthe subframe and use the period as the resources for SRS transmission(reference signals) (hereinafter referred to as “SRS resources”).

Meanwhile, subframes for SRS transmissions are individually configuredfor terminals by a higher layer (i.e., RRC layer higher than thephysical layer) (hereinafter, referred to as individual SRS subframe).Each terminal transmits an SRS in the configured individual SRSsubframe. In addition, parameters for SRS resources (hereinafter, may bereferred to as “SRS resource parameters”) are configured and indicatedto each terminal. The SRS resource parameters include the bandwidth,bandwidth position (or SRS bandwidth starting position), cyclic shiftand comb (corresponding to identification information on the subcarriergroup) of the SRS, for example. The terminal transmits an SRS using theresources specified by the indicated parameters. Additionally, SRSfrequency-hopping may be configured.

Next, conventional (LTE Rel.10) SRS transmission power control will bedescribed.

Transmission power P_(SRS,c)(i) of an SRS in subframe #i of serving cell#c is calculated according to following equation 1 as described inNPL 1. The serving cell is a cell that indicates control information toa terminal in communication.[1]P _(SRS,c)(i)=min{P _(CMAX,c)(i),P _(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(m)+10 log₁₀(M_(SRS,c))+P _(O) _(_) _(PUSCH,c)(j)+α_(c)(j)·PL_(c) +f_(c)(i)}  (Equation 1)

In equation 1, P_(CMAX,c) [dBm] represents maximum transmission power ofSRS that can be transmitted by a terminal, P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(m)[dB] represents an offset value of transmission power of SRS withrespect to transmission power of PUSCH transmitted by the terminal(parameter set from a base station apparatus (hereinafter, may be simplyreferred to as “base station” or may also be referred to as “eNB”)),M_(SRS,c) represents the number of frequency resource blocks assigned toSRS, P_(O) _(_) _(PUSCH,c)(j) [dBm] represents an initial value oftransmission power of PUSCH (parameter set from the base station),PL_(c) represents a path loss level [dB] measured by the terminal,α_(c)(j) represents a weighting factor representing a compensation ratioof the path loss (PL_(c))(parameter set from the base station), andf_(c)(i) represents a cumulative value in subframe #i including pastvalues of TPC (transmission power control) command (control value, forexample, +3 dB, +1 dB, 0 dB, −1 dB) subject to closed loop control. InP_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(m), values are set for m=0, 1 respectively. Tobe more specific, a parameter value of m=0 is used in the case of Type 0SRS (also referred to as “P-SRS”) in P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(m) or aparameter value of m=1 is used in the case of Type 1 SRS (also referredto as “aperiodic SRS (A-SRS)”). P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(m) is expressedin step widths of 1.5 [dB] within a setting range of −10.5 [dB] to 12.0[dB]. That is, P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(m) is expressed by 4 bits.Furthermore, values are set in P_(O) _(_) _(PUSCH,c)(j) and α_(c)(j) forj=0, 1, 2, respectively.

Here, the path loss (PL_(c)) is a value measured by a terminal usingreference signals transmitted by a serving cell of the terminal and iscalculated according to following equation 2.[2]PL_(c)=referenceSignalPower−RSRP  (Equation 2)

In equation 2, referenceSignalPower represents a transmission powervalue of a reference signal of a serving cell indicated from the servingcell, and RSRP (reference signal received power) represents receivingpower of a reference signal calculated by a terminal using a filtercoefficient (averaged length) indicated from the serving cell.

In the uplink of LTE-Advanced, which is an evolved version of LTE,aperiodic SRS (hereinafter referred to as “A-SRS”) is used in additionto P-SRS introduced from LTE. This A-SRS transmission timing iscontrolled by trigger information (e.g., 1-bit information). The triggerinformation is transmitted from the base station to the terminal using acontrol channel of the physical layer (that is, PDCCH). That is, theterminal transmits A-SRS only when A-SRS transmission is requested bytrigger information (that is, A-SRS transmission request). Studies areunderway to assume the A-SRS transmission timing to be a first commonSRS subframe four subframes after the subframe in which the triggerinformation is transmitted. As described above, P-SRS is periodicallytransmitted, while A-SRS can be transmitted to the terminal for a shortperiod in a concentrated manner only when uplink transmission data isgenerated in bursts.

In LTE-Advanced, studies are being carried out on a heterogeneousnetwork (HetNet) using a plurality of base stations having coverageareas of different sizes. Furthermore, in LTE-Advanced, studies areunderway to apply CoMP (coordinated multiple point transmission andreception), which is a communication scheme in which a plurality ofcells (base stations) cooperate to transmit data to a terminal for thepurpose of improving mainly the throughput of a user located on a celledge in a heterogeneous network.

The heterogeneous network is a network jointly using a macro basestation that covers a large coverage area (hereinafter, may also bereferred to as “macro cell” or “macro eNB” or “HPN (high power node)”)and a pico base station that covers a small coverage area (hereinafter,may also be referred to as “pico cell” or “pico eNB” or “LPN (low powernode)”). For example, in the operation of a heterogeneous network, apico eNB having small transmission power is installed in a coverage areaof a macro eNB having large transmission power, and the macro eNB andthe pico eNB are connected together using a cable (an optical fiber orthe like). Studies are underway to apply downlink CoMP (downlink CoMP)in which the pico eNB and the macro eNB cooperatively transmit datasignals to a pico terminal (pico UE, terminal controlled by the picoeNB) in such a heterogeneous network environment (see FIG. 1).

In a system using CoMP, studies are underway to perform CoMP control inaccordance with a propagation path condition such as selection of anoptimum transmission point or selection of a transmission weight fromamong a plurality of cells (base stations) using reference signals(e.g., P-SRS and A-SRS) for measuring uplink channel quality from theterminal to the base station (e.g., see NPL 2).

A plurality of base stations such as a macro eNB and pico eNB receiveSRS transmitted from a terminal and measure channel quality (e.g., SINR)(see FIG. 2). SINR measured values of the base stations (that is,propagation path conditions between the base stations and the terminal)are compared and an optimum transmission point in downlink CoMP isthereby determined.

When CoMP is applied in a TDD (time division duplex) system, a pluralityof base stations can estimate downlink channel responses from uplinkchannel responses (channel quality) at the respective base stationscalculated from SRS using reversibility of the propagation path. In thiscase, estimate values of downlink channel responses in the respectivebase stations are compared, and an optimum transmission point andtransmission weight in downlink CoMP are determined.

In a system that applies CoMP in a heterogeneous network environment, apico UE is located within the coverage area of a macro eNB (can receivetransmission signals of the macro eNB). For this reason, not only a picoeNB but also a macro eNB can be selected as a transmission point for thepico UE. That is, when channel quality between the pico UE and the macroeNB is good, it is possible to improve the downlink throughputperformance by transmitting data from the macro eNB which is not theserving cell of the pico UE to the pico UE in a coordinated manner.

CITATION LIST Non-Patent Literatures

NPL 1

3GPP TS36.213 v10.0.1 (section 5.1), “3GPP TSGRAN E-UTRA Physical layerprocedures (Release 10),” December 2010

NPL 2

3GPP TSG RAN WG1 meeting, R1-111469, Samsung, “Discussions on CSI-RSport selection for non-uniform networks with low-power nodes”, May 2011

BRIEF SUMMARY Technical Problem

In consideration of application of CoMP in a heterogeneous networkenvironment, the aforementioned transmission power control of SRSinvolves the following problems.

Considering the fact that the macro eNB can also be selected as atransmission point for the pico UE, the macro eNB needs to accuratelymeasure channel quality between the pico UE and the macro eNB using SRStransmitted from the pico UE in order to achieve the effect of improvingthe system performance by applying CoMP.

In contrast, under the aforementioned transmission power control of SRS,the pico UE transmits SRS with transmission power in accordance with apath loss of the pico eNB which is the serving cell. That is, as shownin FIG. 3, the pico UE controls transmission power of SRS based on thepath loss of the pico eNB so that receiving power of SRS at the pico eNBbecomes a target level. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, since thedistance of the macro eNB from the pico UE is greater than the distancefrom the pico eNB, the path loss corresponding to a signal transmittedfrom the pico UE is greater than that of the pico eNB. Thus, at areception point of the macro eNB as shown in FIG. 3, the reception levelof SRS transmitted from the pico UE is lower than the target level, andchannel quality measurement accuracy between the pico UE and the macroeNB deteriorates.

To be more specific, when the reception level of SRS at the macro eNB islower than a noise level, a large error (difference between input SINRand measured SINR) may occur in channel quality (e.g., SINR measuredvalue) due to the influence of noise. For example, FIG. 4 shows acomputer simulation result illustrating a relationship of an averagevalue and variance of the measured SINR versus an input SINR. As shownin FIG. 4, it is clear that the lower the input SINR (reception SINR ofSRS), the greater the influence of noise and the greater the SINRmeasurement error (difference between the input SINR and the measuredSINR). For example, in FIG. 4, in order to reduce the measurement errorof SINR and thus to secure channel quality estimating accuracy, the basestation needs to receive SRS in a region where the influence of noisedecreases (e.g., region where input SINR is 5 dB or higher).

As described above, base stations such as macro eNB and pico eNBestimate channel quality based on an SINR measured value measured usingSRS transmitted from a terminal and thereby perform CoMP control. Forthis reason, when the measurement error of SINR is large, a base stationhaving poor channel quality may be erroneously selected as atransmission point. Similarly, when the measurement error of SINR islarge, an inappropriate transmission weight may be selected. As shownabove, when the measurement error of SINR is large, the effect ofimproving the system performance by applying CoMP decreases due todeterioration of channel quality measurement accuracy, and the systemperformance may conversely deteriorate because of application of CoMP.

Meanwhile, in order to increase the input SINR in a base station, it isnecessary to increase transmission power of SRS in a terminal. Forexample, SRS transmission power control of a terminal may be performedusing a minimum necessary input SINR (e.g., SINR=5 dB in FIG. 4) tosecure the channel quality measurement accuracy in a base station as atarget level. However, when the terminal increases the transmissionpower of SRS, power consumption of the terminal increases, andinterference provided to other cells (hereinafter, referred to as othercell interference) increases.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a terminal apparatus,a base station and a communication method capable of limiting increasesin power consumption in the terminal and increases in other cellinterference.

Solution to Problem

A terminal apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosureincludes: a control section that controls transmission power of asounding reference signal (SRS) using an offset value corresponding totransmission power of a data signal; and a transmitting section thattransmits the SRS with the transmission power, in which: the controlsection controls the transmission power of the SRS using a first offsetvalue when an SRS transmission subframe is a predetermined subframe, andthe control section controls the transmission power of the SRS using asecond offset value when the transmission subframe is a subframe otherthan the predetermined subframe; and the second offset value is anoffset value set for transmission to a serving cell, and the firstoffset value is greater than the second offset value.

A base station apparatus according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure includes: a determining section that determines an offsetvalue corresponding to transmission power of a data signal for aterminal apparatus; and a receiving section that receives a soundingreference signal (SRS) with transmission power controlled using theoffset value, in which: the determining section determines a firstoffset value to be used for SRS transmission, when an SRS transmissionsubframe is a predetermined subframe, and a second offset value to beused for SRS transmission, when the transmission subframe is a subframeother than the predetermined subframe; and the second offset value is anoffset value set for transmission to a serving cell of the terminalapparatus, and the first offset value is greater than the second offsetvalue.

A transmission method according to an aspect of the present disclosureincludes: controlling transmission power of a sounding reference signal(SRS) using an offset value corresponding to transmission power of adata signal; and transmitting the SRS with the transmission power, inwhich: the transmission power of the SRS is controlled using a firstoffset value when an SRS transmission subframe is a predeterminedsubframe, and the transmission power of the SRS is controlled using asecond offset value when the transmission subframe is a subframe otherthan the predetermined subframe; and the second offset value is anoffset value set for transmission to a serving cell, and the firstoffset value is greater than the second offset value.

A reception method according to an aspect of the present disclosureincludes: determining an offset value corresponding to transmissionpower of a data signal for a terminal apparatus; receiving a soundingreference signal (SRS) with transmission power controlled using theoffset value; and determining a first offset value to be used for SRStransmission, when an SRS transmission subframe is a predeterminedsubframe, and determining a second offset value to be used for SRStransmission, when the transmission subframe is a subframe other thanthe predetermined subframe, in which the second offset value is anoffset value set for transmission to a serving cell of the terminalapparatus, and the first offset value is greater than the second offsetvalue.

Advantageous Effects of Disclosure

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to limit increasesin power consumption in a terminal and increases in other cellinterference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates CoMP transmission in downlink;

FIG. 2 illustrates SRS transmission;

FIG. 3 illustrates a receiving power level of SRS in each base station;

FIG. 4 illustrates SINR measured values and variance characteristicswith respect to an input SINR;

FIG. 5 illustrates a processing flow of a system according to Embodiment1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a main configuration diagram of a base station according toEmbodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a main configuration diagram of a terminal according toEmbodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the basestation according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the terminalaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates SRS transmission subframes according to Embodiment 1of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a receiving power level of SRS in each base stationaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates an effect of other cell interference in a macro eNBaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates a transmission power control method for SRSaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminalaccording to Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 illustrates a method for setting a code sequence used for SRSaccording to Embodiment 5 of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 16 illustrates a transmission power control method for SRSaccording to Embodiment 6 of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the drawings. Throughout the embodiments, thesame elements are assigned the same reference numerals and any duplicatedescription of the elements is omitted.

Embodiment 1

[Overview of Communication System]

A communication system according to Embodiment 1 of the presentdisclosure includes base station 100 representing a macro eNB or picoeNB and terminals 200 representing a pico UE. Base station 100 is anLTE-A compliant base station, and terminals 200 are LTE-A compliantterminals.

FIG. 5 illustrates a processing flow of a system according to Embodiment1 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 5, a scheduler that performs CoMPcontrol on the macro eNB and the pico eNB determines SRS-relatedinformation (SRS information) transmitted from the pico UE (ST101). Forexample, the SRS information includes subframes in which SRS ispower-boosted, and the amount of power boost or the like.

The determined SRS information is shared between the macro eNB and thepico eNB using a cable (communication via an optical fiber) orwirelessly (e.g., communication using an X2 interface). The pico eNBindicates (broadcasts) by radio the SRS information to the pico UEconnected to the pico eNB.

The pico UE configures transmission power of SRS according to the SRSinformation indicated (broadcast) from the pico eNB (ST102), andtransmits SRS using a subframe for SRS transmission (e.g., common SRSsubframe or individual SRS subframe) (ST103).

The pico eNB and the macro eNB receive SRS transmitted from the pico UE(ST104) and measures channel quality (ST105).

The scheduler that performs CoMP control wiredly or wirelessly collectschannel quality measured in the macro eNB and the pico eNB and performsCoMP control (selection of a transmission point, selection of atransmission weight or the like) (ST106). The macro eNB and the pico eNBcooperatively transmit a downlink data signal to the pico UE accordingto CoMP control.

FIG. 6 is a main configuration diagram of base station 100 according toEmbodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In base station 100, SRSinformation determining section 101 determines an offset value (poweroffset value) corresponding to transmission power of a data signal forterminal 200, and reception processing section 107 receives SRS with thetransmission power controlled using the offset value. Here, SRSinformation determining section 101 determines a first offset value usedfor SRS transmission when an SRS transmission subframe is apredetermined subframe and a second offset value used for SRStransmission when the SRS transmission subframe is a subframe other thanthe predetermined subframe.

FIG. 7 is a main configuration diagram of terminal 200 according toEmbodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In terminal 200, transmissioncontrol section 204 controls transmission power of SRS using an offsetvalue corresponding to transmission power of a data signal andtransmitting section 206 transmits SRS with the transmission powercontrolled in transmission control section 204. Here, transmissioncontrol section 204 controls transmission power of SRS using the firstoffset value when the SRS transmission subframe is the predeterminedsubframe and controls transmission power of SRS using the second offsetvalue when the transmission subframe is a subframe other than thepredetermined subframe.

However, the above second offset value is the offset value set fortransmission to the serving cell of terminal 200 and the above firstoffset value is greater than the second offset value.

[Configuration of Base Station 100]

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of base station100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 8, base station 100includes SRS information determining section 101, coding and modulationsection 102, transmission processing section 103, transmitting sections104-1 and 104-2, antennas 105-1 and 105-2, receiving sections 106-1 and106-2, reception processing section 107, channel quality measuringsection 108, and CoMP control section 109.

In FIG. 8, regarding a plurality of transmitting/receiving sections andantennas, for example, such an operation is also possible thattransmitting section 104-1, receiving section 106-1 and antenna 105-1are used to form a macro cell (HPN: high power node) and transmittingsection 104-2, receiving section 106-2 and antenna 105-2 are used toform a pico cell (LPN: low power node). That is, the respective pairs ofcomponents of transmitting section 104, antenna 105 and receivingsection 106 are arranged at separate positions to form the macro celland pico cell respectively and thereby form a heterogeneous networkenvironment.

SRS information determining section 101 determines SRS-relatedinformation (SRS information) for target terminal 200. The SRSinformation contains, in addition to parameters such as common SRSsubframes, individual SRS subframes, frequency band (transmission band),bandwidth (or the number of RBs), cyclic shift, transmission comb, thenumber of antennas, transmission count, frequency-hopping pattern andSRS sequence number, subframes in which SRS is power-boosted andtransmitted (hereinafter, referred to as “boost subframes”) and theamount of power boost in the boost subframes. To be more specific, SRSinformation determining section 101 determines a boost subframe and anon-boost subframe in which SRS is transmitted without power boost(hereinafter, referred to as “normal subframe”) for each subframe forSRS transmission. Furthermore, SRS information determining section 101determines a power offset value of SRS used in each subframe (that is,offset value corresponding to transmission power of a data signal(PUSCH)). For example, in a normal subframe, P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0)or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1) used as conventional P-SRS or A-SRS isused (that is, m=0, 1 shown in equation 1). On the other hand, in aboost subframe, P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) defined in distinction froma conventional power offset value is used (e.g., m=2 is assumed inequation 1). SRS information determining section 101 then outputssetting information including the determined SRS information to codingand modulation section 102. Details of the method for setting P_(SRS)_(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) will be described later.

As described above, the SRS information generated by SRS informationdetermining section 101 is subjected to transmission processing incoding and modulation section 102, transmission processing section 103and transmitting section 104 as control information of an RRC layer, andthen transmitted to target terminal 200.

Furthermore, SRS information determining section 101 transmits settinginformation including SRS information to target terminal 200 via codingand modulation section 102 and outputs the setting information toreception processing section 107.

Coding and modulation section 102 performs coding and modulation on theSRS information received from SRS information determining section 101and outputs the modulated signals to transmission processing section103.

Transmission processing section 103 maps the modulated signals receivedfrom coding and modulation section 102 to downlink radio resources tothereby form a transmission signal. Here, when the transmission signalis an OFDM signal, transmission processing section 103 maps themodulated signals to predetermined downlink radio resources, appliesinverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) processing, transforms themodulated signals into time waveform, and adds a CP (cyclic prefix) tothereby form an OFDM signal.

When target terminal 200 is a macro UE (terminal controlled by the macroeNB), the transmission signal is outputted to transmitting section 104-1(corresponding to a macro cell (HPN)) and when target terminal 200 is apico UE (terminal controlled by the pico eNB), the transmission signalis outputted to transmitting section 104-2 (corresponding to a pico cell(LPN)).

Transmitting section 104-1 or 104-2 applies transmission radioprocessing (up-conversion, digital/analog (D/A) conversion or the like)to the transmission signal received from transmission processing section103 and transmits the transmission signal via antenna 105-1 or 105-2.

Receiving sections 106-1 and 106-2 apply reception radio processing(down-conversion, analog/digital (A/D) conversion or the like) to theradio signal received via antenna 105-1 or 105-2 and outputs thereceived signal to reception processing section 107. A signal receivedvia antenna 105-1 and receiving section 106-1 is a received signal ofthe macro eNB and a signal received via antenna 105-2 and receivingsection 106-2 is a received signal of the pico eNB.

Reception processing section 107 extracts SRS received in the macro eNBand SRS received in the pico eNB based on SRS information received fromSRS information determining section 101 and outputs the SRSs to channelquality measuring section 108.

Channel quality measuring section 108 measures channel quality based onthe SRS received from reception processing section 107 (SRS received inthe macro eNB and SRS received in the pico eNB). For example, channelquality measuring section 108 calculates a correlation of each receptionSRS with a replica signal, and thereby calculates an SINR measured value(or channel response) at a macro eNB reception point and an SINRmeasured value (or channel response) at a pico eNB reception point.Channel quality measuring section 108 outputs the channel qualityobtained to CoMP control section 109.

CoMP control section 109 selects a transmission point of a downlink datasignal intended for target terminal 200 based on channel quality (e.g.,SINR measured value) at the macro eNB reception point and channelquality (SINR measured value) at the pico eNB reception point. Forexample, CoMP control section 109 may judge that the performanceimprovement effect by CoMP transmission will be high when using areception point (cell) at which the SINR measured value falls within apredetermined threshold compared to a maximum SINR measured value amongthe SINR measured values received from channel quality measuring section108. CoMP control section 109 selects one or a plurality of receptionpoints as transmission points of a downlink data signal from amongreception points at which the SINR measured value falls within apredetermined threshold. Alternatively, in a TDD system, CoMP controlsection 109 may also select a transmission weight of downlink data whosequality is highest among reception points of the downlink signal intarget terminal 200 based on a channel response at a macro eNB receptionpoint and a channel response at a pico eNB reception point. Such CoMPcontrol is intended to improve system performance.

In the present embodiment, a configuration in which single base station100 forms a macro cell and a pico cell has been described. However,without being limited to this, a configuration may also be adopted inwhich a plurality of base stations 100 respectively form macro and picocells, and appropriately share signals to thereby cause them to operatein a coordinated manner.

[Configuration of Terminal 200]

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of terminal 200according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.

In FIG. 9, terminal 200 includes antenna 201, receiving section 202,reception processing section 203, transmission control section 204, SRSgenerating section 205, and transmitting section 206.

Receiving section 202 applies reception radio processing(down-conversion, analog/digital (A/D) conversion or the like) to aradio signal received via antenna 201 and outputs the received signalobtained to reception processing section 203.

Reception processing section 203 extracts SRS information included inthe received signal and outputs the SRS information to transmissioncontrol section 204.

Transmission control section 204 outputs transmission resourceinformation included in the SRS information (e.g., information on an SRStransmission subframe, frequency band (transmission band), SRS sequencenumber or the like) to SRS generating section 205. Transmission controlsection 204 controls transmission power of SRS based on a power offsetvalue of SRS corresponding to the SRS transmission subframe included inthe SRS information. Transmission control section 204 outputsinformation indicating the controlled transmission power of SRS totransmitting section 206.

SRS generating section 205 generates an SRS using a predetermined SRSsequence number (ZC sequence number, CS number) according to informationreceived from transmission control section 204, maps the SRS to apredetermined radio resource, applies IFFT processing and adds a CP. SRSgenerating section 205 outputs the signal with the CP to transmittingsection 206.

Transmitting section 206 applies transmission radio processing(up-conversion, digital/analog (D/A) conversion or the like) to thetransmission signal generated in SRS generating section 205.Transmitting section 206 sets transmission power corresponding to an SRStransmission subframe according to an instruction from transmissioncontrol section 204 and transmits the SRS transmission subframe viaantenna 201. To be more specific, in a normal subframe, SRS istransmitted with transmission power set using P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1) used for conventionalP-SRS or A-SRS. Meanwhile, in a boost subframe, SRS is transmitted withtransmission power set using P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) defined indistinction from conventional power offset values. Details of the methodfor setting P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) will be described later.

[Operations of Base Station 100 and Terminal 200]

A description will be provided regarding operations of base station 100and terminal 200 respectively including the abovementionedconfigurations.

[Operation of Base Station 100]

In base station 100, SRS information determining section 101 determinesSRS information for target terminal 200. To be more specific, SRSinformation determining section 101 sets, in addition to power offsetvalue P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1) of SRSused in normal subframes, power offset value P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2)of SRS used in boost subframes.

A value greater than P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) and P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(1) can be set as the value of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2).For example, the amount of power boost equivalent to the differencebetween the pico UE-pico eNB path loss and the pico UE-macro eNB pathloss may be set as the value of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2). That is,the values of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) and P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(1) for the pico UE are values set by taking into account thepath loss between the pico UE and the pico eNB (serving cell of the picoUE), whereas the value of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) for the pico UE isa value set by taking into account the path loss between the pico UE andthe macro eNB. In other words, the values of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0)and P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1) for the pico UE are power offset valuesset to be transmitted to the pico eNB (serving cell of the pico UE),whereas the value of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) for the pico UE is apower offset value set to be transmitted to the macro eNB.

Reception processing section 107 of base station 100 receives SRS withtransmission power controlled using the above power offset value interminal 200.

Thus, the pico UE (terminal 200) uses P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) inboost frames, and can thereby transmit SRS with transmission powercompensating for the path loss between the pico UE and the macro eNB.Therefore, the macro eNB can receive SRS from the pico UE at a signallevel sufficiently greater than a noise level and accurately measurechannel quality.

[Operation of Terminal 200]

On the other hand, in terminal 200, transmission control section 204controls transmission power of SRS in accordance with the SRStransmission subframe based on the SRS information indicated from basestation 100. Transmission control section 204 calculates transmissionpower of SRS according to equation 1. To be more specific, in normalsubframes, transmission control section 204 calculates transmissionpower of SRS according to equation 1 using power offset value P_(SRS)_(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1) (that is, m=0 or 1).On the other hand, in boost subframes, transmission control section 204calculates transmission power of SRS according to equation 1 using poweroffset value P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) (that is, m=2).

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, let us suppose that a predeterminedsubframe (SRS reception timing of the macro eNB in FIG. 10) is set as aboost subframe in a cell specific SRS subframe, and a subframe otherthan the predetermined subframe (SRS reception timing of the pico eNB inFIG. 10) is set as a normal subframe. That is, the power offset value ofa boost subframe is greater than the power offset value of a normalsubframe.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, boost amount Δ=0 dB in a normalsubframe, and the pico UE (terminal 200) transmits SRS with transmissionpower using the conventional power offset value (P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1)) (that is, transmissionpower set for the pico eNB). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10,boost amount Δ=10 dB in a boost subframe, and the pico UE (terminal 200)transmits an SRS with power-boosted transmission power (that is,transmission power set for the macro eNB).

Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, in a boost subframe, the pico UE transmits anSRS with transmission power power-boosted by boost amount Δ compared totransmission power in a normal subframe (transmission power with whichthe pico eNB can receive SRS at a target level). In this way, the picoUE power-boosts transmission power of SRS transmitted in a predeterminedsubframe (boost subframe), so that the macro eNB can receive the SRStransmitted from the pico UE at a target level (signal level with littleinfluence of noise) or higher. Therefore, the macro eNB can reduce achannel quality (e.g., SINR) measurement error. Thus, since the macroeNB can accurately measure channel quality between the pico UE and themacro eNB, it is possible to appropriately select a transmission pointor transmission weight and thus to improve the effect of improvingsystem performance by CoMP.

As shown in FIG. 10, the pico UE (terminal 200) limits subframes to bepower-boosted for SRS to only predetermined subframes (boost subframes).This makes it possible to limit increases in power consumption ofterminal 200. Moreover, when subframes to be power-boosted are limited,subframes in which other cell interference increases are also limited.Thus, it is possible to limit increases in consumption of SRStransmission resources (time, frequency, codes) of the entire system andthus to reduce overhead of the system.

More specifically, if the terminal always applies power boost totransmit SRS, the influence of other cell interference (interferenceprovided from the pico cell to the macro cell in FIG. 12) increases asshown in FIG. 12. In this case, it is necessary to divide(orthogonalize) transmission resources for SRS transmitted between theterminal (pico UE) and the terminal of the other cell (macro UE in FIG.12), and SRS transmission resources required in the entire system(overhead of the system) increase and the system performancedeteriorates. On the other hand, other cell interference is small in notpower-boosted subframes as in the conventional case, and therefore, forexample, the same SRS transmission resources can be used for SRS ofterminals respectively connected to pico cells located at greatdistances and overhead of the system can be reduced.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, terminal 200 applies powerboost only in predetermined subframes (boost subframes) and does notapply power boost in other subframes (normal subframes) as shown in FIG.10. Compared to FIG. 12, this can reduce subframes in which other cellinterference increases, limit increases in consumption of SRStransmission resources (time, frequency, codes) of the entire system andprevent overhead of the system from increasing.

The greater the limitation to subframes to be power-boosted, the longerthe period during which channel quality between the pico UE and themacro eNB cannot be measured becomes and control over switching betweentransmission points in CoMP control can be no longer performeddynamically. On the other hand, the more dynamically switching betweentransmission points in CoMP control is controlled, the greater the timevariation of interference becomes, and the more MCS selection errors mayoccur, causing performance to deteriorate. For this reason, even whenmoderate CoMP control is applied by limiting subframes to bepower-boosted as in the case of the present embodiment, the performanceimprovement effect by CoMP is never drastically reduced.

When transmission power of SRS in terminal 200 is calculated, parametersother than P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(m) shown in equation 1 are notdependent on SRS transmission subframes (normal subframes and boostsubframes) and values previously indicated from base station 100 areused. That is, even for the path loss (PL_(c)) shown in equation 1,values not dependent on SRS transmission subframes and measured withreference to the serving cell of terminal 200 are used. That is,terminal 200 changes the value of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(m) shown inequation 1 in accordance with the SRS transmission subframe, but doesnot change parameters other than P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(m) shown inequation 1. This makes it possible to limit increases in the amount ofsignaling from base station 100 to terminal 200 compared to a case whereall parameters of equation 1 are changed between boost subframes andnormal subframes. However, even when all parameters in equation 1 arechanged between boost subframes and normal subframes, it is possible toimprove the effect of improving system performance by CoMP as in thecase of the present embodiment. In this case, since the pico UE measuresa path loss of the macro eNB which is not the serving cell (pico eNB),it is necessary to know the transmission power value(referenceSignalPower shown in equation 2) of the reference signal inthe macro eNB.

Thus, SRS information determining section 101 in base station 100determines a power offset value corresponding to transmission power of adata signal for terminal 200. In this case, SRS information determiningsection 101 determines a first power offset value used for SRStransmission when the SRS transmission subframe is a boost subframe, anda second offset value used for SRS transmission when the SRStransmission subframe is a normal subframe.

In terminal 200, transmission control section 204 controls transmissionpower of SRS using a power offset value corresponding to transmissionpower of a data signal. In this case, transmission control section 204controls transmission power of SRS using the first offset value when theSRS transmission subframe is a boost subframe and controls transmissionpower of SRS using the second offset value when the SRS transmissionsubframe is a normal subframe. Transmitting section 206 transmits SRSwith the controlled transmission power.

However, the above second offset value (that is, (P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1)) is a power offset valueset to be transmitted to the serving cell of terminal 200, and the firstoffset value (P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2)) is greater than the secondoffset value.

It is thereby possible to limit increases in power consumption in theterminal and increases in other cell interference.

SRS information determining section 101 may also use a value common toP-SRS and A-SRS as the power offset value of SRS used in a boostsubframe. That is, SRS information determining section 101 may set onevalue of aforementioned P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) (value greater thanthe conventional power offset value) between P-SRS and A-SRS. This makesit possible to prevent deterioration of receiving quality of SRS whilelimiting increases in the amount of signaling for indicating the poweroffset value of SRS.

Furthermore, a distinction may be made in the power offset value of SRSused in a boost subframe between P-SRS and A-SRS. For example, SRSinformation determining section 101 may set P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2)for P-SRS transmission in a boost subframe and set P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(3) for A-SRS transmission in a boost subframe. Here, SRSinformation determining section 101 sets a value greater than P_(SRS)_(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) (conventional offset value for P-SRS (Type0 SRS)) asthe value of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2). Similarly, SRS informationdetermining section 101 sets a value greater than P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(0) (conventional offset value for A-SRS (Type1 SRS)) as thevalue of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(3). Even when target quality isdifferent between P-SRS and A-SRS, this allows the minimum necessarypower boost amount for preventing deterioration in receiving quality ofSRS in base station 100 to be individually set. Thus, since terminal 200sets minimum necessary transmission power in accordance with each SRS,it is possible to limit increases in power consumption and other cellinterference in terminal 200.

SRS information determining section 101 may set a boost amount Δcorresponding to the conventional power offset value instead of settingthe power offset value used in boost subframes. That is, terminal 200uses “P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0)+Δ” as the power offset value duringP-SRS transmission in boost subframes and uses “P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(1)+Δ” as the power offset value during A-SRS transmission inboost subframes. That is, only a difference (boost amount Δ) from theconventional power offset value is indicated as the power offset ofboost subframes, and it is thereby possible to further reduce the amountof signaling of the power offset value in boost subframes compared tothe amount of signaling of the conventional power offset value. By sodoing, it is possible to reduce the amount of signaling, andindividually set the minimum necessary power boost amount to preventdeterioration of SRS receiving quality in base station 100 even whentarget quality differs between P-SRS and A-SRS.

Embodiment 2

In the present embodiment, the method for setting a power offset valuein a boost subframe described in Embodiment 1 will be described indetail.

Hereinafter, methods for setting power offset values 1 to 3 in a boostsubframe will be described, respectively.

[Setting Method 1]

Setting method 1 is a method for setting an upper limit value capable ofbeing set as a power offset value (P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2)) of SRSused in a boost subframe to be a value greater than a power offset value(P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1)) used in anormal subframe.

As an example of the power offset value used in a normal subframe,P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) is expressed in a step width of 1.5 [dB]within an range of −10.5 to 12.0 [dB]. That is, P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(0) is expressed in 15 steps and is indicated using 4 bitsfrom base station 100 to terminal 200.

In contrast, the step width of power offset value P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(2) used in a boost subframe may be set to be equal to thestep width of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) and the setting range ofP_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) may be set to a value obtained by adding anoffset to the setting range of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0).

For example, the setting range of power offset value P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(2) may be set to −5.5 to 17.0 [dB] by adding 5 dB to thesetting range (−10.5 to 12.0 [dB]) of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0). Thatis, power offset value P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) is expressed in astep width of 1.5 [dB] within a range of −5.5 to 17.0 [dB]. That is,P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) is expressed in 15 steps in the same asP_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) and indicated using 4 bits from base station100 to terminal 200.

This allows terminal 200 to set transmission power of SRS within asetting range having a greater upper limit value in boost subframes thanin normal subframes and with setting accuracy (step width) similar tothat of normal subframes.

Alternatively, the step width of power offset value P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(2) used in boost subframes may be greater than the stepwidth of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) as another setting method.

For example, the step width of power offset value P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(2) may be set to 2.5 [dB] which is greater by 1.0 [dB] thanthe step width of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) (1.5 [dB]). That is, whenthe minimum value of the power offset value is assumed to be the samevalue (−10.5 [dB]) as that of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0), the settingrange of power offset value P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) is −10.5 to 27.0[dB]. That is, power offset value P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) isexpressed in a step width of 2.5 [dB] within a range of −10.5 to 27.0[dB]. In this case, P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) is also expressed in 15steps as in the case of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) and indicated using4 bits from base station 100 to terminal 200.

This allows terminal 200 to set transmission power of SRS within asetting range having a greater upper limit value in boost subframes thanin normal subframes and in a wider range including the setting range ofnormal subframes.

This enables terminal 200 to perform power boost compensating for a pathloss difference between the macro eNB and the pico eNB, enables themacro eNB to receive SRS from the pico UE with appropriate receivingpower (target level) and reduce measurement errors in channel quality.

Flag information indicating whether or not to change the upper limitvalue of power offset value P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) in boostsubframes from the power offset value (P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) orP_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1)) in normal subframes may be indicatedpreviously from the pico eNB to the pico UE. For example, when thedistance between the macro eNB and the pico UE is equal to or greaterthan a previously set threshold (when the path loss is large), a greaterpower boost amount is necessary for SRS, and therefore the setting range(upper limit value) of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) may be changed to theaforementioned setting. On the other hand, when the distance between themacro eNB and the pico UE is smaller than the previously set threshold(when the path loss is small), a greater power boost amount isunnecessary for SRS, and therefore a setting range similar to that ofP_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1) may be usedwithout changing the setting range (upper limit value) of P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(2).

[Setting Method 2]

Setting method 2 is a method that sets a boost amount Δ for aconventional power offset value (P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS)_(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1)) of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2). That is, the poweroffset value P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) used in boost subframes is avalue obtained by increasing the power offset (P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1)) used in normal subframesby a predetermined value.

Base station 100 indicates (broadcasts) only the boost amount Δ toterminal 200. Terminal 200 then calculates power offset value P_(SRS)_(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) in boost subframes according to equation 3 using theboost amount Δ indicated from base station 100. Equation 3 shows a casewhere the boost amount Δ is added to power offset value P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(0) of P-SRS, but the boost amount Δ may likewise be added topower offset value P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1) of A-SRS to calculatepower offset value P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) in boost subframes.[3]P _(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2)=P _(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0)+Δ  (Equation3)

The number of bits for indicating the boost amount Δ is smaller than thenumber of bits for indicating (4 bits) the conventional power offsetvalue (P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1)). Forexample, when the boost amount Δ is expressed in four types 0, 5, 10, 15dB in a step width of 5 [dB], the number of bits for indicating theboost amount Δ is 2. That is, base station 100 indicates (broadcasts)information of 2 bits on the power offset value of a boost subframe.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, if the macro eNB can receive SRS in a regionof input SINR where there is little influence of noise (region whereSINR is equal to or greater than a target SINR level (e.g., 5 dB)), highchannel quality measurement accuracy can be secured. Thus, when thenumber of bits for indicating the boost amount Δ is set to be smallerthan the number of bits for indicating conventional power offset value(P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(0) or P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1)), althoughvalues of the boost amounts that can be set by terminal 200 becomerough, it is possible for terminal 200 to set transmission power of SRSso that base station 100 obtains SINR equal to or higher than the targetSINR level. This allows base station 100 to perform appropriate CoMPcontrol (selection of transmission point, selection of transmissionweight or the like) and thereby improve the effect of improving systemperformance by applying CoMP.

Thus, the boost amount Δ corresponding to the conventional power offsetvalue of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) is set to the number of bitssmaller than that of the conventional power offset value. This makes itpossible to indicate (broadcast) an SRS power offset value for boostsubframes with a smaller amount of signaling while maintaining theeffect of improving system performance by applying CoMP.

[Setting Method 3]

Setting method 3 is a method that sets cell-specific boost amount Δ inoperation in which a pico eNB is located in the coverage area of a macroeNB (macro cell).

To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 1, when one or a plurality of picoeNBs are located in the coverage area of a macro eNB, a pico UEconnected to each pico eNB can receive a downlink signal from the macroeNB. In order for base station 100 to perform optimum CoMP control, itis necessary to receive SRSs of all pico UEs connected to the pico eNBswithin the coverage area of the macro eNB and accurately measure channelquality.

According to setting method 3, base station 100 sets one boost amount Δused in boost subframes for the pico UE and indicates the boost amount Δto all pico UEs (terminals 200) connected to the pico eNBs within thecoverage area of the macro eNB. The boost amount Δ set for the pico UEis, for example, a maximum value of the necessary boost amount of eachpico UE. That is, in a system that performs CoMP transmission(coordinated transmission) among a plurality of base stations (cells)including a macro eNB and one or more pico eNBs arranged within thecoverage area of the macro eNB, the boost amount Δ is a common valueamong terminals 200 (pico UEs) connected to one or more pico eNBs.

Thus, the boost amount Δ corresponding to the conventional power offsetvalue of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2) is set to the number of bits whichis smaller than that of the conventional power offset value. It isthereby possible to indicate (broadcast) an SRS power offset value forboost subframes with a small amount of signaling while maintaining theeffect of improving the system performance by applying CoMP.

Furthermore, in an operation whereby pico eNBs are arranged within thecoverage area of a macro eNB, setting a cell-specific boost amount Δmakes it possible to further reduce the amount of signaling compared toa case where the boost amount Δ is set for each pico UE whilemaintaining the effect of improving system performance by applying CoMP.

Methods 1 to 3 for setting a power offset value in boost subframes havebeen described so far.

As described above, it is possible to limit increases in powerconsumption of a terminal and also increases in other cell interferencewithout increasing the amount of signaling of control information.

Embodiment 3

In the present embodiment, the method for setting a boost subframedescribed in Embodiment 1 will be described, more specifically.

Hereinafter, boost subframe setting methods 1 to 3 will be described,individually. As shown in FIG. 13, it is assumed that a value obtainedby adding a boost amount Δ to a power offset value of a normal subframeis used as the power offset value of a boost subframe.

[Setting Method 1]

According to setting method 1, as shown in FIG. 13, boost subframes areset as SRS transmission subframes of the macro UE (that is, receptiontimings of the macro eNB). On the other hand, normal subframes are setto subframes other than SRS transmission subframes of the macro UE. Thisboost subframe (SRS transmission subframe of the macro UE) is indicatedfrom base station 100 to terminal 200 (pico UE).

Thus, since the pico UE power-boosts SRS only at SRS reception timing ofthe macro eNB, the number of subframes in which other cell interferenceincreases decreases as in the case of Embodiment 1, which in turn makesit possible to suppress consumption of SRS transmission resources (time,frequency, codes) of the entire system and to prevent overhead of thesystem from increasing.

The pico UE shown in FIG. 13 represents a pico UE in a group of aplurality of base stations that perform CoMP transmission (macro eNBsand pico eNBs) (which may also be referred to as “CoMP set”) in thecoverage area of the macro eNB. That is, SRS transmission subframessimilar to those in FIG. 13 are set for pico UEs connected to each picoeNB in the above group. In other words, as shown in FIG. 13,cell-specific subframes are set for the pico UE.

That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the pico UE (terminal 200) transmits SRSwithout power boost (Δ=0 [dB]) in subframes other than SRS transmissionsubframes of the macro UE (normal subframes). In normal subframes (thatis, timings at which the pico UE transmits SRS without power boost), amacro UE that has large transmission power transmits no SRS (“notransmission” shown in FIG. 13). Therefore, no interference from themacro UE to the pico UE occurs in normal subframes.

Thus, according to setting method 1, it is possible to limit increasesin power consumption of the terminal and also increases in other cellinterference as in the case of Embodiment 1.

In boost subframes, the macro eNB receives SRS from the macro UE withhigh transmission power and SRS from the power-boosted pico UE. For thisreason, in boost subframes, transmission resources may be divided forSRSs transmitted by terminals of each cell to prevent interferencebetween other cells.

[Setting Method 2]

According to setting method 2, boost subframes are set in a bit mapformat of common SRS subframe units. That is, which SRS transmissionsubframe is a predetermined subframe (boost subframe) is expressed in abit map in SRS transmission subframe units. This bit map is indicatedfrom base station 100 to terminal 200.

For example, when a boost subframe is represented by ‘0’ and a normalsubframe is represented by ‘1,’ a bit map pattern of a predeterminedtime length (e.g., data sequence such as ‘01011000 . . . ’) is indicatedfrom base station 100 to terminal 200 in common SRS subframe units setfor each cell.

Base station 100 can thereby flexibly set boost subframes of each cellin common SRS subframe units, so that SRS interference control betweenterminals 200 becomes easier in each cell, which makes it possible tolimit increases in SRS transmission resources.

[Setting Method 3]

According to setting method 3, boost subframes are set using acombination of predetermined periods and subframe offsets used to definea common SRS subframe. That is, a predetermined subframe period andsubframe offsets indicating the positions of boost subframes in aplurality of subframes corresponding to one period are indicated frombase station 100 to terminal 200.

As described above, a common SRS subframe is defined by a combination ofa predetermined period and subframe offset in cell units. For example,when the period is 10 subframes and a subframe offset is 3, a thirdsubframe within a period configured in 10-subframe units (e.g., 1 frame)is set as a common SRS subframe.

Similarly, a boost subframe is also defined by a combination of apredetermined period and subframe offset. Terminal 200 may identify as anormal subframe a common SRS subframe other than a boost subframeidentified by a predetermined period and subframe offset. For example,when boost subframes are set as subframes #0, #5, #10, . . . , basestation 100 may set period=5 subframes and subframe offset=0.

Since a plurality of boost subframes set periodically can becollectively set in this way, the amount of signaling can be reducedcompared to a case where boost subframes are indicated for eachsubframe.

Embodiment 4

The present embodiment is different from Embodiment 1 in that terminal200 determines whether or not the effect of applying CoMP is large, andapplies power boost and transmits SRS only when the effect of applyingCoMP is large.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of terminal 300according to the present embodiment.

In terminal 300, boost determining section 301 determines whether or notto apply power boost to SRS and outputs the determination result(applied: ON, not applied: OFF) to transmission control section 302. Forexample, boost determining section 301 determines whether or not toapply power boost to SRS based on whether or not the effect of improvingthe system performance by applying CoMP is large. Details of thedetermining processing in boost determining section 301 will bedescribed later.

When the output from boost determining section 301 is ON (power boost isapplied), transmission control section 302 controls SRS transmissionusing a power offset value in burst subframes in the same way astransmission control section 204 (FIG. 9) according to Embodiments 1 to3. On the other hand, when the output from boost determining section 301is OFF (power boost is not applied), transmission control section 302does not apply power boost even in burst subframes and controls SRStransmission using a power offset value in normal subframes.

Next, details of the determination processing in boost determiningsection 301 will be described.

The determination processing in boost determining section 301 as towhether or not power boost for SRS is applied is based on the followingviewpoints.

Terminals (pico UEs) having a large effect of improving the systemperformance by applying CoMP are terminals that have a relatively smalldistance from both the macro eNB and the pico eNB. In other words,terminals (pico UEs) having a large effect of improving the systemperformance by applying CoMP are terminals located near both cell edgesof the macro eNB and the pico eNB. When CoMP is not applied(transmission from a single cell), receiving quality is poor in thisterminal because of the terminal being at the cell edge. Thus, a drasticimprovement of the receiving quality is expected by applying CoMP(coordinated transmission from a plurality of cells) to this terminal.

On the other hand, for terminals other than the above-describedterminals (terminals located near any one of cell centers of the macroeNB and the pico eNB), receiving quality is originally good even withoutapplication of CoMP (transmission from the single cell), so that theeffect of improving the system performance by applying CoMP is small.

In this respect, in the present embodiment, terminal 300 applies powerboost of SRS to only terminals relatively near both the macro eNB andthe pico eNB. That is, boost determining section 301 of terminal 300determines whether or not to use, in boost subframes, a power offsetvalue greater than a power offset value in normal subframes (whether ornot to apply power boost) in accordance with the conditions of terminal300.

Next, methods 1 and 2 for determining whether or not power boost isapplied in boost determining section 301 will be described in detail.

[Determining Method 1]

According to determining method 1, boost determining section 301determines whether or not terminal 300 is a terminal to which powerboost is applied based on an offset amount of CRE (Cell rangeexpansion).

CRE is a technique of expanding an area where the pico cell is selected.In CRE, an offset amount (value set in dB) is added to connection linkselection criteria of the pico cell (downlink receiving power orpropagation loss). Therefore, when the offset amount is positive, thearea in which the terminal is connected to the pico cell expands,whereas when the offset amount is negative, the area in which theterminal is connected to the pico cell shrinks. The offset amount of CREis obtained using information previously indicated to the terminal(e.g., value of CellsToAddMod;;cellIndividualOffset of MeasObjectEUTRAdescribed in “3 GPP TS36.331”).

Thus, boost determining section 301 determines whether or not to applypower boost to SRS based on the offset amount of CRE. That is, when theoffset amount of CRE is positive, boost determining section 301determines that terminal 300 is a terminal to which power boost isapplicable and determines that power boost is applied (determinationresult: ON). On the other hand, when the offset amount of CRE isnegative, boost determining section 301 determines that terminal 300 isnot a terminal to which power boost is applicable and determines thatpower boost is not applied (determination result: OFF).

Thus, terminal 300 applies power boost to SRS only in a situation inwhich the offset amount of CRE is positive and terminal 300 is locatedat the cell edge of the pico cell, which in turn makes it possible tofurther reduce power consumption of terminal 300 and subframes in whichother cell interference increases, compared to Embodiment 1.

Moreover, boost determining section 301 may also determine whetherterminal 300 is located at the cell edge (terminal to which power boostis applicable) or located near the center of the cell using results of acomparison between the level of other cell interference and the signallevel of the serving cell thereof in addition to the offset amount ofCRE.

To be more specific, when the offset amount of CRE is positive and theratio of the signal level of the serving cell thereof to the level ofother cell interference is equal to or less than a previously setthreshold, boost determining section 301 determines that terminal 300 isa terminal to which power boost is applicable (terminal located near thecell edge) and determines that power boost is applied (determinationresult: ON). On the other hand, when the offset amount of CRE isnegative or the ratio of the signal level of the serving cell thereof tothe level of other cell interference is greater than a previously setthreshold, boost determining section 301 determines that terminal 300 isnot a terminal to which power boost is applicable (terminal located nearthe cell edge) and determines that power boost is not applied(determination result: OFF).

In this way, boost determining section 301 can determine whether or notto apply power boost more accurately than the case where only the offsetamount of CRE is used.

[Determining Method 2]

According to determining method 2, boost determining section 301determines whether or not terminal 300 is a terminal to which powerboost is applicable based on a path loss with reference to the servingcell of terminal 300.

To be more specific, when a path loss between terminal 300 and theserving cell of terminal 300 is equal to or less than a previously setthreshold, boost determining section 301 determines that the distancebetween the serving cell and terminal 300 is small (terminal 300 islocated near the center of the cell). That is, when the path loss isequal to or less than a previously set threshold, boost determiningsection 301 determines that terminal 300 is unlikely to be a terminal towhich power boost is applicable. In this case, boost determining section301 determines that power boost is not applied (determination result:OFF).

On the other hand, when a path loss between terminal 300 and the servingcell of terminal 300 is greater than a previously set threshold, boostdetermining section 301 determines that the distance between the servingcell and terminal 300 is large (terminal 300 is located near the celledge). That is, when the path loss is greater than a previously setthreshold, boost determining section 301 determines that terminal 300 islikely to be a terminal to which power boost is applicable. In thiscase, boost determining section 301 determines that power boost isapplied (determination result: ON).

Determining methods 1 and 2 in boost determining section 301 have beendescribed so far.

As described above, terminal 300 determines whether or not to applypower boost to SRS based on the offset amount of CRE or a path loss withreference to the serving cell. Thus, power boost is applied to onlyterminals having a large performance improvement effect by applyingCoMP. That is, power boost is not applied to SRS even in boost subframesfor terminals having a small performance improvement effect by applyingCoMP. It is thereby possible to limit increases in unnecessary powerconsumption or increases in other cell interference in the terminalwhile maintaining the effect of improving the system performance byapplying CoMP.

Embodiment 5

In the present embodiment, transmission power of SRS is increased (powerboosted) in boost subframes and an SRS code sequence (e.g., ZC sequence)used in boost subframes is made to vary from an SRS code sequence usedin normal subframes.

Operations of base station 100 (FIG. 8) and terminal 200 (FIG. 9)according to the present embodiment will be described.

In LTE, a ZC (Zadoff-Chu) sequence is used as the SRS code sequence. Inaddition, a ZC sequence number used by terminal 200 is associated with acell ID. For this reason, when the cell ID differs between a pico eNBand a macro eNB, the pico UE and the macro UE use different SRS ZCsequence numbers.

In this case, when SRS transmission resources (subframes andtransmission bands) used in the pico UE and the macro UE are the same,inter-symbol interference increases. For this reason, the channelquality measurement accuracy deteriorates in the macro eNB that receivesboth SRSs.

When setting an SRS ZC sequence for terminal 200 (pico UE), SRSinformation determining section 101 of base station 100 sets a ZCsequence (ZC sequence number associated with the cell ID of the macroeNB) used for the macro cell in boost subframes. On the other hand, whensetting an SRS ZC sequence for terminal 200 (pico UE), SRS informationdetermining section 101 sets a ZC sequence (ZC sequence numberassociated with the cell ID of the pico eNB) used in the serving cell(pico eNB) of terminal 200 in normal subframes as in the conventionalcase.

That is, transmission control section 204 of terminal 200 (pico UE) setsa ZC sequence associated with the macro eNB for SRS in boost subframesand sets a ZC sequence associated with the serving cell of terminal 200for SRS in normal subframes. Thus, terminal 200 uses different ZCsequences in boost subframes and normal subframes.

For example, FIG. 15 illustrates a setting example of an SRS ZC sequencenumber used in each subframe for the pico UE (terminal 200). In FIG. 15,as in the case of setting method 1 in Embodiment 3, SRS transmissionsubframes of the macro UE (SRS reception timings of the macro eNB) areset in boost subframes. In FIG. 15, a ZC sequence number associated withthe cell ID of the macro eNB is assumed to be ZC#1 and a ZC sequencenumber associated with the cell ID of the pico eNB which is the servingcell of the pico UE (terminal 200) is assumed to be ZC#2.

As shown in FIG. 15, terminal 200 does not apply power boost to SRS innormal subframes (Δ=0 [dB]), and assumes an SRS ZC sequence to be ZC#2.On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15, terminal 200 applies power boostto SRS in boost subframes (Δ=10 [dB]) and assumes an SRS ZC sequence tobe ZC#1.

As shown in FIG. 15, the macro UE and the pico UE use the same SRS ZCsequence number in boost subframes. Terminal 200 changes a CS (cyclicshift) number while using the same ZC sequence number as that of themacro UE in boost subframes. Even when both the macro UE and the pico UEtransmit SRSs using the same SRS transmission resource, it is possibleto orthogonalize SRSs between the macro UE and the pico UE, allowing themacro eNB to improve the channel quality measurement accuracy.

Embodiment 6

In the present embodiment, a method for setting an A-SRS-specific poweroffset value will be described in detail. In Embodiment 1, the methodfor changing a power offset value of SRS in accordance with an SRStransmission subframe has been described, whereas the present embodimentchanges a power offset value of A-SRS in accordance with timing ofindicating trigger information for prompting A-SRS transmission from abase station to a terminal (to be more specific, subframes in whichPDCCH including trigger information is transmitted).

The present embodiment is based on the following viewpoints. That is,A-SRS or P-SRS transmission subframes are set only at predeterminedperiods (e.g., 5, 10, 20 ms) in each cell.

However, in the case of A-SRS, A-SRS trigger information (PDCCH) can betransmitted for each subframe.

Thus, associating timings of indicating A-SRS trigger information with ahigher transmission frequency (PDCCH transmission subframes) with anA-SRS power offset value makes it easier for the base station totransmit A-SRS with appropriate transmission power directed to a desiredcell in accordance with an instantaneous situation for the terminal.

Operations of base station 100 (FIG. 8) and terminal 200 (FIG. 9)according to the present embodiment will be described.

SRS information determining section 101 of base station 100 determinesSRS-related information (SRS information) for target terminal 200. TheSRS information includes parameters such as A-SRS transmissionsubframes, frequency band (transmission band), bandwidth (or the numberof RBs), cyclic shift, transmission comb, the number of antennas,frequency-hopping pattern, SRS sequence number, and in addition,information on the correspondence between subframes for indicatingtrigger information for prompting A-SRS transmission and the power boostamount during A-SRS transmission. Specifically, SRS informationdetermining section 101 determines a plurality of different A-SRS powerboost amounts (e.g., first power boost amount and second power boostamount) for an indication subframe number of A-SRS trigger information.SRS information determining section 101 then outputs setting informationincluding the determined SRS information to coding and modulationsection 102.

In terminal 200, transmission control section 204 controls A-SRStransmission power using an offset value corresponding to transmissionpower of a data signal, and transmitting section 206 transmits A-SRSwith transmission power controlled by transmission control section 204.Here, transmission control section 204 controls A-SRS transmission powerusing a power boost amount uniquely determined in accordance with asubframe for indicating A-SRS trigger information. For example,transmission control section 204 controls A-SRS transmission power usinga first power boost amount when the subframe for indicating the A-SRStrigger information is an odd number and using a second power boostamount when the indication subframe is an even number.

A more specific example will be described with reference to FIG. 16. InFIG. 16, SRS transmission subframes are set at 5-ms periods of #1, 6, 11and 16. When a subframe for indicating trigger information for promptingA-SRS transmission from base station 100 is an odd number, terminal 200transmits A-SRS with a power offset amount of P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(1)=0 dB, whereas when the subframe is an even number, SRSinformation (correspondence information) that associates subframes withpower boost amounts is indicated to terminal 200 so that terminal 200can transmit A-SRS with a power offset amount of P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(2)=10 dB.

In this case, when a subframe for indicating A-SRS trigger informationis #7 (odd number), terminal 200 transmits A-SRS with a power offsetamount of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(1)=0 dB in the first SRS transmissionsubframe located at the fourth subframe after #7 or after the fourthsubframes (#11 or after #11). When the subframe for indicating A-SRStrigger information is #6 (even number), terminal 200 transmits A-SRSwith a power offset amount of P_(SRS) _(_) _(OFFSET,c)(2)=10 dB in thefirst SRS transmission subframe located at the fourth subframe after #6or after the fourth subframe (#10 or after #11).

When base station 100 hopes to cause terminal 200 to transmits A-SRStoward the macro cell located at a long distance from terminal 200, basestation 100 indicates trigger information to terminal 200 ineven-numbered subframes, which allows terminal 200 to transmit A-SRSwith large power. On the other hand, when base station 100 hopes tocause terminal 200 to transmits A-SRS toward the pico cell located at ashort distance, base station 100 indicates trigger information toterminal 200 in odd-numbered subframes, which allows terminal 200 totransmit A-SRS with small power.

This makes it possible to transmit A-SRS with appropriate transmissionpower while limiting increases in power consumption of terminal 200 andincreases in other cell interference. Furthermore, base station 100changes a subframe for indicating trigger information to terminal 200 inorder to transmit A-SRS with different power offset amounts in the sameSRS transmission subframe, so that it is possible to limit increases inconsumption of SRS transmission resources (subframes) of the cell.

In the aforementioned description, control is performed with two powerboost amounts corresponding to timings of indicating A-SRS triggerinformation, but control may also be performed with three or moredifferent power boost amounts.

In the aforementioned description, the power offset amount is assumed tobe 0 dB when the subframe for indicating trigger information forprompting A-SRS transmission from base station 100 is an odd number, andthe power offset amount is assumed to be 10 dB when the subframe is aneven number. However, the power offset amount may be assumed to be 0 dBwhen the subframe for indicating trigger information for prompting A-SRStransmission from base station 100 is an even number, and the poweroffset amount may be assumed to be 10 dB when the subframe is an oddnumber.

Embodiment 7

In the present embodiment, in addition to control of A-SRS transmissionpower in accordance with timing of indicating A-SRS trigger informationshown in Embodiment 6 (number of a subframe in which A-SRS triggerinformation is transmitted), A-SRS setting information (SRS sequence,bandwidth, frequency-hopping pattern or the like) is also controlled.

Operations of base station 100 (FIG. 8) and terminal 200 (FIG. 9)according to the present embodiment will be described.

As described above, when SRS transmission resources (subframes andtransmission bands) used in the pico UE and the macro UE are the samebut SRS ZC sequence numbers used by the pico UE and the macro UE aredifferent, inter-code interference increases. For this reason, thechannel quality measurement accuracy deteriorates in the macro eNB thatreceives both SRSs.

Thus, SRS information determining section 101 of base station 100 notonly controls a plurality of different power boost amounts in accordancewith the timing of indicating A-SRS trigger information shown inEmbodiment 6, but also controls an A-SRS ZC sequence. That is, whentransmitting A-SRS to a macro cell at a long distance, SRS informationdetermining section 101 causes terminal 200 to transmit A-SRS with largepower using an A-SRS ZC sequence used for the macro cell. On the otherhand, when hoping to cause terminal 200 to transmit A-SRS to a pico cellat a small distance, SRS information determining section 101 causesterminal 200 to transmit A-SRS with small power using an A-SRS ZCsequence used for the pico cell.

For example, when the subframe for indicating trigger information forprompting A-SRS transmission from base station 100 is an odd number,terminal 200 transmits A-SRS with a power offset amount of P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(1)=0 dB using a sequence of ZC#1 used in a pico cell(sequence specific to the serving cell of terminal 200). Meanwhile, whenthe subframe for indicating trigger information for prompting A-SRStransmission from base station 100 is an even number, terminal 200transmits A-SRS with a power offset amount of P_(SRS) _(_)_(OFFSET,c)(2)=10 dB using a sequence of ZC#2 used in a macro cell(sequence specific to the macro cell).

In addition to the effects obtained in Embodiment 6, common A-SRStransmission timings are used between coordinated cells (that is,control is performed on the power boost amount and A-SRS ZC sequence inaccordance with the above subframe number between coordinating cells ascommon rules), which in turn makes it possible to realizeorthogonalization by CS using the same ZC sequence number and thus toimprove the receiving quality.

A-SRS setting information other than the ZC sequence may be controlledlikewise. For example, controlling the bandwidth of A-SRS or afrequency-hopping pattern to set values used in the transmission targetcell simultaneously with controlling the power boost amount, makes itpossible to realize inter-cell coordination that orthogonalizes A-SRSstransmitted from a plurality of cells in the frequency domain.

A case has been described above where terminal 200 uses a sequence ofZC#1 used in the pico cell when a subframe for indicating triggerinformation for prompting A-SRS transmission from base station 100 is anodd number and uses a sequence of ZC#2 used in the macro cell when thesubframe is an even number. However, terminal 200 may also use asequence of ZC#1 used in the pico cell when a subframe for indicatingtrigger information for prompting A-SRS transmission from base station100 is an even number and use a sequence of ZC#2 used in the macro cellwhen the subframe is an odd number.

The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described so far.

Other Embodiments

(1) In the above embodiments, SRS transmitted by terminal 200 may beP-SRS or A-SRS. Regardless of whether SRS is P-SRS or A-SRS, effectssimilar to those obtained in the above embodiments can be achieved.

(2) In each of the embodiments, a description has been provided withantennas, but the present disclosure can be applied to antenna ports inthe same manner.

The term “antenna port” refers to a logical antenna including one ormore physical antennas. In other words, the term “antenna port” does notnecessarily refer to a single physical antenna, and may sometimes referto an antenna array including a plurality of antennas, and/or the like.

For example, 3GPP LTE does not specify the number of physical antennasforming an antenna port, but specifies an antenna port as a minimum unitallowing base stations to transmit different reference signals.

In addition, an antenna port may be specified as a minimum unit to bemultiplied by a precoding vector weighting.

(3) In the each of the embodiments, a description has been providedusing an example in which the present disclosure is implemented byhardware, but the present disclosure may also be implemented by softwarein cooperation with hardware.

The functional blocks used in the description of each of the embodimentsmay typically be implemented as an LSI, which is an integrated circuit.The functional blocks may be formed as individual chips, or some of orall of the functional blocks may be integrated into a single chip. Theterm “LSI” is used herein, but the terms “IC,” “system LSI,” “superLSI,” or “ultra LSI” may also be adopted depending on the degree ofintegration.

In addition, the circuit integration does not have to be achieved usingan LSI and may be achieved using a dedicated circuit or ageneral-purpose processor other than an LSI. A field programmable gatearray (FPGA), which is programmable after LSI manufacturing, or areconfigurable processor which allows reconfiguration of connections andsettings of circuit cells in an LSI after LSI manufacturing may be used.

Should a circuit integration technology replacing LSI appear as a resultof advancements in semiconductor technology or other derivativetechnology, the functional blocks could be integrated using such atechnology. Biotechnology applications, and/or the like, are conceivableprospects.

The disclosures of the specifications, drawings, and abstracts includedin Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-154885, filed on Jul. 13, 2011and Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-102744 filed on Apr. 27, 2012,are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is useful in making it possible to appropriatelyselect transmission points when applying CoMP and to improve the systemperformance while limiting increases in power consumption of a terminaland increases in other cell interference.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   100 Base station    -   101 SRS information determining section    -   102 Coding and modulation section    -   103 Transmission processing section    -   104, 206 Transmitting section    -   105, 201 Antenna    -   106, 202 Receiving section    -   107, 203 Reception processing section    -   108 Channel quality measuring section    -   109 CoMP control section    -   200, 300 Terminal    -   204, 302 Transmission control section    -   205 SRS generating section    -   301 Boost determining section

The invention claimed is:
 1. A terminal apparatus comprising: atransmission controller which, in operation, controls a transmissionpower of a sounding reference signal (SRS) using an offset value; and atransmitter which, in operation, transmits the SRS using the controlledtransmission power, wherein the offset value used to control thetransmission power is set within one of a first offset setting rangehaving a first lower limit value and a first upper limit value and asecond offset setting range having a second lower limit value and asecond upper limit value, wherein a difference between the first lowerlimit value and the second lower limit value is equal to a differencebetween the first upper limit value and the second upper limit value, astep width of the offset values within the first offset setting rangeequals a step width of the offset values within the second offsetsetting range, and the SRS is a periodic SRS (P-SRS) or an aperiodic SRS(A-SRS).
 2. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thefirst and second offset setting ranges are set for the P-SRS and for theA-SRS, respectively.
 3. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a bit length of the offset value within the first offset settingrange equals a bit length of the offset value within the second offsetsetting range.
 4. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe offset value is included in higher layer control information.
 5. Theterminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second offsetsetting range is used when a path loss between the terminal apparatusand a serving cell exceeds a predetermined value.
 6. The terminalapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first offset setting rangeis used during transmission to a serving cell.
 7. A communication methodimplemented by a terminal apparatus, the method comprising: controllinga transmission power of a sounding reference signal (SRS) using anoffset value; and transmitting the SRS using the controlled transmissionpower, wherein the offset value used to control the transmission poweris set within one of a first offset setting range having a first lowerlimit value and a first upper limit value and a second offset settingrange having a second lower limit value and a second upper limit value,wherein a difference between the first lower limit value and the secondlower limit value is equal to a difference between the first upper limitvalue and the second upper limit value, a step width of the offsetvalues within the first offset setting range equals a step width of theoffset values within the second offset setting range, and the SRS is aperiodic SRS (P-SRS) or an aperiodic SRS (A-SRS).
 8. The communicationmethod according to claim 7, wherein the first and second offset settingranges are set for the P-SRS and for the A-SRS, respectively.
 9. Thecommunication method according to claim 7, wherein a bit length of theoffset value within the first offset setting range equals a bit lengthof the offset value within the second offset setting range.
 10. Thecommunication method according to claim 7, further comprising receivingthe offset value as higher layer control information.
 11. Thecommunication method according to claim 7, wherein the offset value isselected from the second offset setting range when a path loss betweenthe terminal apparatus and a serving cell exceeds a predetermined value.12. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the offsetvalue is selected from the first offset setting range duringtransmission from the terminal apparatus to a serving cell.
 13. Anintegrated circuit that controls a process performed at a terminalapparatus, the process comprising: controlling a transmission power of asounding reference signal (SRS) using an offset value; and transmittingthe SRS using the controlled transmission power, wherein the offsetvalue used to control the transmission power is set within one of afirst offset setting range having a first lower limit value and a firstupper limit value and a second offset setting range having a secondlower limit value and a second upper limit value, wherein a differencebetween the first lower limit value and the second lower limit value isequal to a difference between the first upper limit value and the secondupper limit value, a step width of the offset values within the firstoffset setting range equals a step width of the offset values within thesecond offset setting range, and the SR S is a periodic SR S (P-SRS) oran aperiodic SR S (A-SRS).
 14. The integrated circuit according to claim13, wherein the first and second offset setting ranges are set for theP-SRS and for the A-SRS, respectively.
 15. The integrated circuitaccording to claim 13, wherein a bit length of the offset value withinthe first offset setting range equals a bit length of the offset valuewithin the second offset setting range.
 16. The integrated circuitaccording to claim 13, wherein the process further comprises receivingthe offset value as higher layer control information.
 17. The integratedcircuit according to claim 13, wherein the offset value is selected fromthe second offset setting range when a path loss between the terminalapparatus and a serving cell exceeds a predetermined value.
 18. Theintegrated circuit according to claim 13, wherein the offset value isselected from the first offset setting range during transmission fromthe terminal apparatus to a serving cell.